Home total parenteral nutrition in cancer patients.

Home parenteral nutrition has been used in a carefully selected group of patients with recurrent, incurable cancer. The goal of this treatment was to allow the patients to live their final months at home, instead of confined to hospital. Experiments with this program have shown that a rigidly defined group of patients can lead a comfortable existence with an acceptably low complication rate before eventually succumbing to their cancer. Additionally, a significant cost savings is realized, compared to the alternative of prolonged hospitalization.